The guy is from South Carolina, only an hour drive from Columbia. You can't criticize him for staying home. It's also silly to blame him for "hogging the spotlight." Blame ESPN, the NCAA, the SEC, or any of the other organizations that will profit from his talents. He's just an amateur athlete enjoying this time and making the biggest decision of his life.
Spurrier managed to keep the nation's top player in state. Let's hope Mike Gundy can do the same with Barry J. Sanders next year.

I didn't follow the history on this kids antics, but if he verbally committed to other schools first, there is an outside chance that he's been influenced "under the table".

zaphod, way to blame everyone but the athlete. Sure those organizations have found another cash cow.

But he is old enough to take some of the heat for being a showoff. If you put yourself out there for attention, you have to realize some of it is going to be people calling you a knuckle head.

One more pampered jock to be thrust upon the world with a fourth-grade reading level and several million in the bank. I guess I'd rather have him playing football at South Carolina than have him trying to make my change at the local QuikTrip.

How come it is always a Black Kid, you never see white kids hogging the spotlight!

Wow, numerous people here judging the young man because of his last name, his place of birth and education, and his skin color. There are also insinuations that he accepted a bribe and that he's illiterate, without any evidence to support such notions.

Picker, these are your fans.

I can't believe some of the comments on here, especially the racist ones. It's true the kid is not going to graduate cum laude, and will probably have to go to JC to get eligible for Div-1 academically. After that, he probably goes straight to the pros, he's that good. If you doubt it, watch his highlight video. The young man is just a freak of nature, 6'6" tall, strong, and FAST!! Routinely runs down RBs with ease, and tosses those HS offenseive linemen aside like cardboard cutouts. Needs work in the weight room, but this kid will be playing on Sundays for years.